Psychologist

Tag: standardized tests and stress

Are standardized tests in the news in your community? It seems to be what everyone is talking about around here. Federal and state-mandated standardized tests are given to almost all students in grades K-12 in the spring, as far as I can understand. I am not an expert in primary education, standardized testing or curriculum development so I can’t speak about the tests from that angle. But, I am an expert in anxiety and parenting and have a few thoughts about how testing affects those sorts of things.

I have watched standardized testing season come and go (as a psychologist and mom) for over a decade now. And here’s the thing: they cause A LOT of anxiety, worry and nervous feelings all the way around. In parents, in students, in teachers in administrators – probably bus drivers and custodians too – everyone’s feeling the tension. It’s almost impossible to escape.

Here are some ideas for managing the testing season in your home:

Keep your routine normal. Kids thrive on routine. Chances are their school days will look a little different during testing season (different class schedules, dismissal times, etc) so it becomes even more important that routines remain the same at home. Try to keep normal bedtimes, mealtimes and activities going on as usual.

Resist the urge to talk about testing. Your kids – whether in 1st or 11th grade – have likely been hearing about their standardized tests for weeks as teachers prepare them for what to expect. When they get home they might need a break from all the hype. A simple: “How did the test go today?” is likely all you need to ask about it. Grilling our kids, ranting about the philosophical flaws of their school system or putting extra pressure on them to perform academically is rarely helpful. Keep it light and give them a break.

Teach stress management skills. Life is full of stressors. Mastering a couple stress management strategies in childhood can be a wonderful thing. If your child is a little stressed on test days, consider using the opportunity to teach him some basic stress management strategies: Take deep breaths; visual a soothing, restful place; Go on a bike ride or walk.

The vast majority of kids (and parents!) make it through testing season just fine and chances are you (and I!) will, too. If you are concerned that your child’s worry seems more intense than normal, or it doesn’t resolve after the tests are over, you might consider meeting with a psychologist. Read more about whether therapy is needed here.

Are standardized tests in the news in your community? It seems to be what everyone is talking about around here. Federal and state-mandated standardized tests are given to almost all students in grades K-12 in March, as far as I can understand. I am not an expert in primary education, standardized testing or curriculum development so I can’t speak about the tests from that angle. But, I am an expert in anxiety and parenting and have a few thoughts about how testing affects those sorts of things.

Here goes.

I have watched standardized testing season come and go (as a psychologist and mom) for a decade now. And here’s the thing: they cause A LOT of anxiety, worry and nervous feelings all the way around. In parents, in students, in teachers in administrators – probably bus drivers and custodians too – everyone’s feeling the tension. It’s almost impossible to escape.

I am going to stop myself from writing about how unnecessary I think standardized tests are (especially in the quantity in which they are given). And I’ll keep my mouth shut about how ridiculous I think it is that my 2 grade-schoolers have a combined TWENTY THREE test days in the next month. And I’ll stop short of encouraging parents to consider opting-out of testing if they feel it’s not in the best interest of their children.

Instead I will focus on how to help your kiddos make it through testing season with their good mental health intact.

Keep your routine normal. Kids thrive on routine. Chances are their school days will look a little different during testing season (different class schedules, dismissal times, etc) so it becomes even more important that routines remain the same at home. Try to keep normal bedtimes, mealtimes and activities going on as usual.

Resist the urge to talk about testing. Your kids – whether in 1st or 11th grade – have likely been hearing about their standardized tests for weeks as teachers prepare them for what to expect. When they get home they might need a break from all the hype. A simple: “How did the test go today?” is likely all you need to ask about it. Grilling our kids, ranting about the philosophical flaws of their school system or putting extra pressure on them to perform academically is rarely helpful. Keep it light and give them a break.

Teach stress management skills. Life is full of stressors. Mastering a couple stress management strategies in childhood can be a wonderful thing. If your child is a little stressed on test days, consider using the opportunity to teach him some basic stress management strategies: Take deep breaths; Visual a soothing, restful place; Go on a bike ride or walk.

The vast majority of kids (and parents!) make it through testing season just fine and chances are you (and I!) will, too. If you are concerned that your child’s worry seems more intense than normal, or it doesn’t resolve after the tests are over, you might consider meeting with a psychologist. Read more about whether therapy is needed here.

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Welcome! I am a psychologist in Erie, Colorado. On this site you will find information about my clinical psychology practice (yes, I am accepting new patients) as well as my blog. I write articles about psychotherapy, technology, stress management, cooking, pop culture and parenthood - - pretty much anything I can think of, all with a mental health twist!

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Please note that the information in this blog is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for psychological or medical care. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 9-1-1.